Last full day in Mozambique, as a PCV.
Those are some pretty intense words.
I fly out tomorrow morning with a fellow Moz 18er, landing
in DC on Saturday morning. America. Wow.
I’ve been avoiding
writing a blog post about my exit from Mozambique and the closing of my peace
corps service for a bit now. Perhaps its because I’ve been trying to wrap my
mind around the fact that this life is about to be in the rearview mirror, and
that it truly was a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience. I have had immense joy,
sadness, frustration, anxiety, elation, and everything else in between
(sometimes all in one day). I have grown as a person in ways that I would have
never imagined. The experiences gained from this adventure are insurmountable
to anything that I’ve had the opportunity to do before, and I only hope to
build upon them.
Mozambique can be an incredibly trying and frustrating
place. The travel sucks, it gets very hot, and work can bring immense headaches
and emotional breakdowns (refer to past blog posts). But on the opposite side
of the coin, the people here are so unbelievably kind and welcoming, the
landscapes are spectacular, the food amazing, and the adventures fulfilling.
The three years spent here, were not time wasted. Including
this third year with all of its frustrations, sadness, and anxiety. It helped
me grow emotionally, physically and professionally. Adversity is always a
challenge, it is how to handle it, and recover from it - -learning lessons as
we go - - using hindsight to not let it happen again.
As I say my final goodbyes via phone calls, whatsapp
messages, and long hugs here in the Peace Corps office, I’m reminded of so many
good days spent in Quissico, with my friends and family (Mozambican and
American) and the numerous adventures I was privy to in the north this past
year.
Sunshine, sand, surf, mountains and forests of Mozambique will be in my
heart forever. Couve, matapa, and every other food in between will never be far
from my thoughts. And the people, friendships, and family that were forged here
will last forever.
Thank you Mozambique.
It has truly been a spectacular adventure.
Até a próxima
